FIRST PAPER PROMPT

POLI 142D: WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

Spring 2018
Due Date: Monday April 30, 2018 by 4pm PST at the LATEST.

INTRUCTIONS:

1. Answer the prompt in a paper that is 3-6 pages in length (including Works Cited page).
2. Papers must be double spaced, have 1 inch margins and 12 point font Times New Roman.
3. Papers must include a Works Cited page. Use conventional in-text citation (e.g. MLA).
4. Papers must be entirely your own work. You must cite. Refer below for more details.
5. Late papers will be penalized ½ letter grade per day. Submit BOTH:
1. An electronic copy to TritonED by 4pm PST on April 30.
2. A paper copy at the beginning of class on April 30.
6. The paper assignment is worth 40% of your total course grade.

Prompt: Write a short paper detailing the WMD status or aspirations of the country you have
been assigned for the two simulations to be held in class during the course. If the state does not
have WMD, why not? What weapons (internal balancing) or allies (external balancing) does the
country possess and how might these explain the decision not to proliferate? Did the country
have a program to explore/produce nuclear or other WMD? Why did it stop? Regardless of
WMD status, detail the country’s view of WMD. Does it favor/oppose proliferation? How? What
issues or concerns does it raise? To which WMD-related treaties does it belong (NPT, NWFZ,
etc.)? Has it ever used or contemplated using WMD? Include any other information that is
particularly relevant to your assigned country. Do not provide a history of the country itself.

Be analytical: Raise and answer “why?” questions about the country and its status/actions.

Academic Integrity: Submitting this or any other assignment for a grade in this course implies
that you agree to UCSD’s policies as stated in UCSD Principles of Community and the Student
Code of Conduct. Academic misconduct includes (but is not limited to): using another person’s
words as your own, asking someone else to write any part of an assignment you submit as your
own, failing to cite material from another source, rephrasing someone else’s work as your own.

The Policy on Integrity of Scholarship (academicintegrity.ucsd.edu) lists some of the standards

by which you are expected to complete assignments in this course. Students needing assistance
may consult with the instructor or the teaching assistants. You are encouraged to use authorized
UCSD writing resources, such as the Writing Hub. No other person or resource may be used to
assist you in writing this or any other assignment without express permission from the instructor.
Exceptions will be made in the case of disability or other personal need. Please consult with the
instructor if you are unclear about this policy or believe you need the assistance of other persons
or online resources. You may not use a tutor to assist you in writing this assignment. You cannot
collaborate or consult with other students in writing this assignment. You may not refer to online
grammar or translation sources such as Google Translate or Grammarly (grammar is not graded).